Speed-indicating signal



Feb. 9, 1926. 1,572,536

M. JACKSQN SPEED INDIGATING SIGNAL Filed April 10, 1922 $5., wan v4 Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED sTTEs 1,5725% PATENT OFFICE.

MAXEY JACKSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON,A$SIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MOTOR SAFETY INDIGATGR, INC., A CURPQRATION OF WASHINGTON.

srnnn-innrcn'rnve SIGNAL.

Application filed April 10, 1922. Serial No. 551,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVIAXEY JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Indicating Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in speed indicating signals, of that general type in which a light is employed to indicate the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

My present improvements pertain more particularly to the speedometer, the invention being in the nature of either an attachment to speedometers now in use and well known, or it may be embodied in} a speedometer and made part thereof. In the former instance, the improvement can be .readily applied to the speedomcters of known construction, such, for instance, as the Stewart speedometer, without any change in the construction of the latter.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide a simple and ellicient device readily applied to a vehicle, in any desired position, in any convenient manner. It is designed to indicate by showing any one, of a variety of colors of lights the rate of speed at which the vehicle is traveling. The showing of the (lit- :lerent colored lights is accomplished in a simple manner and is controlled by the speed of the vehicle so that there can be no error as to the speed indicated by my im-' provement. It requires no attention on the part of the driver, nor can the driver so manipulate it as to indicate a speed. other than at which the vehicle is moving. There is no opportunity for dispute as to the speed and the police or others can readily determine at a distance the rate at which the vehicle is approaching or moving in the other direction It use will effect a great saving of life- The invention, in its preferred form, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference markedthereon, form a part of this specification, and in' which- Figure 1 is a rear view with'the rear side of the casing removed.

Figure Qis a top plan of Figure 1, the top of the casing being removed in both views.

Figure 3 is a vertical section as on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 is a cross section as on the line l% of Figure 8.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In Figure 1, 9 indicates the. revolublo member carrying the numerals as usual to designate the speed of the car. This is operated in the usual way and with this part of the device my invention while cooperative does not pertain, except as will now be described. In manufacturing the speedometer anew I would extend this revoluble member to) the desired height so that it would be in all respects the same as will now be described in connection with my improvements applied as an attachment to speedometers already manufactured or in use, the two members 9 and 10 being integral.

10 is a cylindrical member of any suitable material, such as aluminum, isinglass or whatever may be found most desirable. In applying my improvement as an addition to the known speedometers, I attach this member so as to vertically extend the height of the member 9 and for this purpose I may employ any expedient; the member 10 may be soldered or similarly affixed to the upper.

end of the member 9, being slipped over the upper edge thereof for a suitable distance for this purpose, as seen in Figure 3, or it may be secured to the member 9 by rivets or the like, as seen at 11 in Figure 1. l

The member 10 is provided with a multiplicity of openings 12 in which are arranged ditferently colored glasses 13, to denote the speed at which the vehicle is traveling. For instance, the first glass, that is the one shown when the vehicle is making say five miles, will be white, the next, indicating ten miles also white; the next may be yellow; the next green, the next blue, the next pink, and the next red, or any other arrangement of colors may be employed,

, tained.

those. denoting the higher speed, however, being red, the color generallyemployed to denote danger. This member 10 being mounted to revolve with the member 9 of the speedometer, with which it is associated, will, of course, display the color as predetermined to correspond with the .speed at- Thus moving at a slow rate of speed, the white will show, when greater speed is attaineil the yellow will show; greater speed will cause the green light to be shown, and so on. These colors will be known to the police and others with their corresponding speeds so that it will be readily understood that the speed of the car is automatically indicated.

14- is a plate serving as a support for the upper end the pivot 15 on which the member 9 revolves. I support or suspend this plate within the member 10 by means of the rods 16, the lower ends of which are screwed into the said plate and their upper ends supported in the plate 17, which latter is supported out of contact with the upper edge of the member 10 so as to avoid friction; This upper plate 17 is supported by means of the rods 18 passed through the saidplate and screwed into some relatively fixed part of the speedometer frame, as seen clearly in Figure'l.

The casing may be made of detachably attached parts or otherwise, as may be found. mostexpedient. I

20 is an electric light socket adapted for cooperation with an electric lamp 21, as seen in Figure The plate 17 is askeleton plate for the reception of'this socket, as seen clearly in F igui'es 2 and3. The wiring for the lamp is not shown; it may be of usual form and disposed within the casing, out of the way. For holding this socket in place, I have shown a spring clamp 22, the cross member of which is secured to the front plate or wall 1 of the casing, as seen at 23, the clamp being formed with the bent portions 2% to embracethe upper ends of the rods 18, as sccnbest in Figure 2, the free ends of thewire ormaterial of which the clamp is formedbeing curved, as seen at 25, to snugly engage the socket, as seen in Figure 2, the terminals 26 affording ready means for relieving the socketof the pressure of the clamp when it is desired to remove the socket.

The casing may be of any desired shape and size as well as'of material.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description and a detailed explanation thereof does not seem sider preferable, it will be readily understood that the same is subject to changes, variations and modifications in detail, proportions of parts, etc., and I, therefore, do not intend to restrict myself to. the construction shown but reserve the right. to make such changes, variations and moditications as come properly within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the revoluble ieinber may be actuated otherwise, the present invention being in no wise restricted to the manner of connection with the wheelor axle.

lVhat is claimedas new is 1. In a speed indicator, a revoluble pivot-ed member of a speed indicating device, a member substantially cylindrical and revoluble therewith, and having differently colored transparent means carried. thereby and placed in openings therein, a platev suspended within saidlast named memberv and forming a support for the pivotv of the first.- namedmember, the two members being revoluble as one, suspending means for said plate, lamp socket for holding an. electric bulb within said cylindrical member, and

means for engaging thesocket.

2. In a speed indicator, a revoluble pivoted member-of, a speed indicatingdevice, a member substantially cylindrical and revoluble therewith, and having. differently colored transparent means carried thereby and placed in, openings therein, a plate suspended within saidmember and forming a support for the pivot of the first-named member, the two'members beingyrevoluble as. one, a second plate from which thesaid first plate is suspended, means for supporting the upper plate, and spring means resting. on said upper. plate for engaging. and supporting a lamp socket for a bulbw-ithin the cylindrical. member.

In testimony whereof I. ailix my signature.

MAXE Y JACKSON. 

